Cable cutter



June 16, 1936. H. GUSTAFSQ-N CABLE CUTTER Filed Oct. 22, 1955 mm NW %N N Q w mm Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE E f 2,044,683 r CABLE CUTTER Henry Gustafson, Astoria, Oreg. Application October 22, 1935, Serial No. 46,235

'7 Claims.

hard, inconvenient, cumbersome and awkward method now generally employed wherein a double bitted ax or cold chisel is employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cable cutter so constructed that, when operated it will provide for expeditiously cutting a cable with a clean square cut with the omission of protruding strands or wires 7 Further objects of theinvention are to provide,

in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cutter for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, conveniently operated, positive in action, thoroughly eflicient for the use intended thereby, and inexpensive to'manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown 'an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure if is a vertical sectional view of the cuttershowing the adaptation thereof with respect to a 'cableto be cut, V

Figure 2 isa section on line'22,'Figure- 1,

Figure 3 isa section on line 3--3, Figure Land Figure 4 is a perspective View of the invertible anvil element of the cutter. 1 The cutter includes a metallic stand 5 formed of a part providing a base 6, a part constituting an anvil support I'integral with the. upper face of base 6, and a part forming a tool guide 8 which has a portion 9 integral with the upwardly extending rear portion II! of the topof support I and a portion II overhanging in spaced relation the portion I2 of support I forwardly of the upstanding rear portion I8.

The base 6 is of rectangular contour and of the desired thickness. The width and breadth of the support 1 isless than that of base 6. The support 1 is integralwith the upper face of base 6 at the longitudinal median of the latter and has its front, rear and sidesspaced from the edges of said guide.

and merge into the side and bottom walls of socket I4. The opening I5 extends from the rear of support I and communicates at its forward 10 end with socket I4 through the base of the latter.

The support I includes a pair of spaced parallel upstanding front side cheeks I6, only one shown, having their inner faces forming flush continuations of the forward portions of the sidewalls of groove I3. The top edges I! of thecheeks I6 are of compound curvature with the rearportions of said edges curving downwardly toand merging into the side walls of the groove. The intermediate portions I8 of the top edges of the side walls of the groove are of segmental contour.

The support 1 includes a pair of spaced parallel upstanding rear 'side' cheeks I9 of substantially right angled triangular contour having their inner faces forming flush continuations of the side walls of groove I3. The forward edges I9 of the cheeks I9 are of arcuate contour. The topedges of the side cheeks I6 merge at their rear ends into the front ends of. the segmental shaped intermediate portions I8 of the side walls of the groove I3. The lower ends of the forward edges of the cheeks I9 merge into the rear end of the segmental shaped intermediate portions l8 of the side walls of the groove. The rear parts of the top edges of cheeks I6 form forward continuations of the; curve of the said intermediate portions I8. The forward edges of the cheeks I9 form rearward and upward continuations of the curve of the'said intermediate portions I8.

The lower end of the portion I I of tool guide 40 8 is of less height than the remaining portion. of Parallel stretches of the lower end of portion are of arcuate curvature, as at 28,

which forms a continuation of the curved the forward edges l8 ofthe cheeks I9. The portion 45. I I is formed with a rectangular passage 28 lengththe curved rear portion of the top edges ll of the cheeks l6 and the curved forward portions of the top edges I! of the cheeks l6 coact to provide a split circular opening 23 for conveniently arranging the cutter relative to the composite wire cable 23 to be cut.

Removably mounted in and snugly engaging with the walls of the groove l3, as well as extending into and snugly engaging with the walls of the socket I4, is a reversible 'anvil124 in the form of a block .of a cross-sectional contour corresponding to the shape of the groove and socket. The anvil 24 is formed with a series of flat side faces or sides 24 for selectively supporting the cable 23*. The checks l6 and I9 extend above the anvil 24. The intermediate portion of the selected side face or side of the anvil extends above the intermediate portions of the side walls of the groove and upon which is seated .the cable. The opening I5 is provided for the passage of a suitable instrument for -forcing the anvil from the support The cheeks l6, l9 act as a-means for retaining the cable 23* 'upon the eX-posed part of the selected side face or side of the anvil and which in this instance would be the upper side face or side of the latter.

Slidabl-y and snugly mounted in and of greater length than that of passage 2| is a cutter member or blade 25 of rectangular cross section. The outer end of member 25 is formed with a centrally disposed flat outer edge part 26 for receiving blows from a suitable impacting element, not shown, for driving the member or blade 25 in an inward d-irection. The inner end of the member 25 has a cutting edge 23. The width of member 25 is materially greater than the diameter of the cable to be cut. The member 25 is formed lengthwise and centrally thereof with an elongated rectangular slot 28 having its inner end wall 29 arranged between the transverse median of said member and the cutting edge 27. The inner end wall 29 of slot 28 is arranged in proximity to the inner side of the transverse median of member 25. The outer end wall 30 of slot '28 is arranged at a point substantially centrally with respect to the transverse median and edge part 2610f member 25. The slot 28 aligns with a pair of parallel slots 3|, 32 formed in the side walls 33, 34 respectively, of the passage. The outer end walls 35 of slots 3|; 32 are arranged between the transverse medians and outer .ends of the side walls 33, 34 of the passage. The inner end walls 36 of slots 3|, 132 are arranged between the transverse medians and the inner ends of the side walls33, .34 of the'passage.

The cutter includes a tightening element 31 for the cutting member or blade 25. The element 31 is of wedge-like form and comprises a tapered body 38 having its larger end formed with a centrally disposed squared edge part 39 for receiving blows from a suitable impacting element not shown. The smaller end 39 of element 31 is pointed.

The stand 5 is provided with a handle 40 suitably connected therewith for conveniently carrying the cutter from one place to another. It is to be understood that the base 6 may, if desired, be provided with openings, not shown, for the passage of holdfast means, not shown, for anchoring the stand stationary.

The block which provides the anvil 24 is of soft or mild steeLbecause, if constructed of hard steel, it would dull the cutting edge of the cutter memher or blade. As the block is square it permits of turning or inverting it when one of its sides or side faces becomes impaired for the purpose of offering a non-impaired side or side face upon which the cable is positioned in the path of the member or blade 25. The latter is formed of tool steel, or its cutting end may be made of tool steel or some hardened steel that may stand use and wear. The element 31 is made of tough or spring steel to prevent its being notched, as notching, of course, would slow or hinder the cutting operation to be referred to.

The manner in which the cutter-is operated will now be referred to. The cable is arranged in ppening 23 and seated upon and transversely of the selected side or side face of the anvil. The

cutter member or blade 25 is then inserted "blade is successively impacted upon by a suitable implement for intermittently forcing the member or blade through the cable to sever the latter. After each impact upon edge part 26, the element 31 is impacted upon for the purpose of tightening the cutting member or blade relative to the cable to preventany shifting of the cable on successive cutting strokes, as well as to provide for satisfactory operation of the cutting member or blade.

Often cables hang inthe air, that is, run horizontally above ground. With this cutter, it is .possible'and convenient to cut the cable without resting the base 6 on anything. In other words, the cutter may be worked above the ground. It is not necessary to drag the cable to the cutter, but the cutter may be brought to the cable and used conveniently either on the ground or in the air above it.

The wedge 3 in close proximity to its end .39, is formed with an opening 40 for connecting therewith a removable means to prevent the wedge from dropping out and, by way of example, the said means is shown in the form of a split ring 4|.

What I claim is:

l. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cutting blade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening for supporting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned within and depending against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, and said stand provided with means for the passage of an implement to shift the anvil from the stand, said anvil being adjustable and formed'with a series of selectable sides upon which the cable is mounted.

2. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cutting blade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening for supporting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned within and depending below the passage into said opening to sever the cable, and an intermittently driven blade tightener extending through the stand and blade and engaging with the latter for tightening the blade against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, said stand being formed with a groove and a socket for receiving the anvil, said groove opening at one end at the front of the'stand and at its other end into said socket, said anvil being adjustable and formed with a series of selectable against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, said stand being formed with a groove and a socket for receiving theanvil, said groove opening at one end at the front of the stand and at its other end into said socket, and said stand being provided with means opening into said socket for the passage of an implement for shifting the anvil clear of the socket and groove, said anvil being adjustableand formed with a series of selectable sides upon which the cable is mounted.

4. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cuttingblade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening for sup porting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned within and depending below the passage into said opening to sever the cable, said stand being formed with aligning slots in opposed side Walls of said passage, said blade being formed with a slot aligning with the said other slots, and an intermittently driven blade tightener extending through the said several slots and engaging with an end wall of the slot in the blade for tightening the latter against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade.

5. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cutting blade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening for supporting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned within and depending below the passage into said opening to sever the cable, said stand being formed with aligning slots in opposed side walls of said passage, said blade being formed with a slot aligning with the said other slots, and an intermittently driven blade tightener extending through the said several slots and engaging with an end wall of the slot in the bladefor tightening the latter against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, said anvil being adjustable and formed with a series of selectable sides upon which the cable is mounted.

6. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cutting blade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening for supporting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned withinanddepending below the passage into said opening to sever the cable, said stand being formed with aligning slots in opposed side walls of said passage, said blade being formed with a slot aligning with the said other slots, an intermittently driven blade tightener extending through the. said several slots and engaging with an end wall of the slot in the blade for tightening the latter against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, said anvil being adjustable and formed with a series of selectable sides upon which the cable is mounted, and said stand provided with means for the passage of an implement to shift the anvil from the stand.

7. A cable cutter comprising a stand formed with a cable receiving opening and a cutting blade passage, an anvil removably mounted in said stand and extending into said opening Ior supporting the cable, an intermittently driven cutting blade positioned within and depending below the passage into said opening to sever the cable, said stand being formed with aligning slots in opposed side walls of said passage, said blade being formed with a slot aligning with the said other slots, an intermittently driven blade tightener extending through the said several slots and engaging with an end Wall of the slot in the blade for tightening the latter against the cable after each cutting stroke of the blade, said stand being formed with a groove and a socket for receiving the anvil, said groove opening at one end at the front of the stand and at its other end into said socket, and said stand being provided with means opening into said socket for the passage of an implementfor shifting the anvil clear of the socket and groove.

HENRY GUSTAFSON. 

